From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Maggiore \Mag`gio"re\ (m[aum]d`j[=o]"r[asl]), a. [It., from L.
major, compar. of magnus great. See Major.] (Mus.)
Greater, in respect to scales, intervals, etc., when used in
opposition to minor; major. --Moore (Encyc. of Music).
[1913 Webster]